Internal-combustion engine



Feb."12, 1929.

R. GEORGE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE] Filed Jan. 31, 1928 M Qiim a llllllll I I l/ t proved intake and exhaust ports,

Patented Feb. 12, 1929.

RICHARD F. GEORGE, OF GLElVDALE, CALIFORNIA.

INTERNAL-contravenes ENGINE:

Application filed January 31, 1928. Serial No. 250,749.

My invention relates more particularly to improvements in the valve structure for controlling the intake and exhaust, and has among its salient objects to provide an im-. proved rotary valve turning about the axis of the cylinder, said rotary valve member forming the end wall of the cylinder chamber; to provide an improved cylinder head, with means in connection therewith for operating said rotary valve; to provide imwhereby quick opening and closing of said ports can be accomplished; and, in general, to provide a simple, practical and eliicient form of construction and arrangement in internal com bustion engines, whereby a practical and economical rotary valve mechanism is made possible. I

In order to fully explain nay-invention, I have illustrated one practical embodiment thereof on the accompanying sheet of drnwings, which I will now describe.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an engine, showing three cylinders, one shown with the head in place, the middle one shown with the head removed, and the third one (at left) shown with part of the head broken away;

Figure 2 is a vertical, cross sectional view through one cylinder, taken on line 2--2, oi

1; land 7 Figure 8 isa horizontal sectional view through the cylinder head, removed, and on the line il -3 of Fig. 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, 1 will describe the embodiment of the inmntion here shown for illustrative purposes. The cylinder is designated l, crank case 5,

crank shaft (3, crank'i, piston 8, oiston rod,

9, and water jacket around the cylinder is designated 10.

The cylinder head asshown is composed of the top plate 11, with water jacket 12, and the annular body 13, having the central spark plug chamber 14c, with spark plug 15, screwed into the bottom thereof. Said central or annular body 13, has an outer anor the spark plug 15, and having four radially disposed ports, as 25, 25, adapted to be turned to alternately register with the intake ports 16 and the exhaust ports 17, leading from the annular chambers 16 and 17, respectively, in the head body 13. The top surface of this valve member is seen'in Fig. 1, in the central cylinder where the head is removed; Said valve member has in said top surface four radial grooves, as 26, with which the inner or lower end ot the bore 20 communicatcsto supply small amount oi lubricating oil from the pipe 21, to the top surface of the bottom of said valve member 23. The annular side member of said valve member is designated 23 and is provided around the outside thereof, between said a nular side member and. the top of the cylinder, designated 4, with two sealing or piston rings, 27. 1

hlounted around the top 4 of the cylinder 4t, is annularmember 28, having teeth 29, around its outer periphery, with its upper portion overlying the upper end of the cylin dertop i, and provided with circumferentially sp ced lugs 30, interlocking with the ai'inular do 23 of said valve tor turi'iing the same, hereinafter referred to. An e3:- tension 31, on the side otthe cylinder 4:,

houses a worm which meshes with the teeth 29, on member 28, and through said member 28, said rotary valve 2 is revolved. A shaft 83, carries all of said wonms 32, as will be understood from Fig. l. Said worms 32, mesh with the teeth 29, which are really worm gears, as will be understood from thecross sectional view thereof seen in Fig. 2. The shaft 33, is provided with a sprocket wheel 34:, as is the crank shaiit (5, as 235, with a sprocket chain 36, connecting the two, within a housing 37, as will be clear from the right hand end of Fig. 1 and Fig, 2;

It is intended that the worms 32, will run in oil in the extensions 31, and that small ports, 38 and 39, will permit oil to work through to oil the meeting surfaces between the valve member 23 and the cylinder top 4, on one side, and the outside of the cylinder head or body 13, on the inside of said valve member 23, as will be seen in Fig. 2.

It is intended that the driving conneetion from the crank shaft 6, through the sprocket chain 36, and the worm and w rm drive to the valve member will be such that approximately eight revolutions of the crank shaftto one revolution of the valve member 28, will be the ratio of operation.

On the outer surface of the oody 13 Gil the head, at opposite sides, are two vertical grooves, as 13, to convey lubricant from the small port 39, Fig. to the joint between said body 13 and the side oi the valve member 23.

The use and operation of the invention may be briefly described as follows:

Referring to Fig. 2 and also to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the piston 8 is starting up viardly on an exhaust stroke; that valve ports 25, in the rotary valve member 23, are in register with ports 16 in said head, and with the exhaust pipe 18, as will be clear "from Fig. 2. At the finish of the exhaust stroke of said piston, said valve member is turned to bring its ports 25 into register with the intake ports 17, so that the down stroke of said piston takes in the charge of explosive mixture from intake pipe 19. It will be noted that the ports 1? are only a short distance from the exhaust ports 16. The distance between ports 17 and the next exhaust port 16, moving in a direction contra-clockwise, is greater and the compression stroke and the power stroke takes place before said rotary valve ports 25 turn to again register with the exhaust ports 16. It will thus be seen that the power or expansion in the cylinder 4 is against the ro tary valve member 23, forcing it uniformly against the head 13, with each explosion and each compression. t will also be seen that there is the exhaust, when ports 25 register with ports 16, intake as said ports 25 move to 17, compression during the continued movement of ports 25 from 17 toward the next 16, also the power or explosion, and then the exhaust as said ports 25 come into register with the next exhaust port 16, making afour cycle engine, and completing each cycle with each quarter turn of the rotary valve member 23.

\Vhile I have shown and described one practical embodiment of my invention on the accompanying sheet of drawings, 1 am aware that changes in the details of con-. struction and arrangement can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not, therefore, limit the invention to the specific showing made for descriptive purposes, except as I may be limited by the hereto appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an internal combustion engine, in combination with a cylinder, a rotary valve member of cup-like form with ports through its bottom, and forming the end wall of said cylinder, a cylinder head fitting over said cylinder with a body portion fitting down into said cup-like valve member, inlet and exhaust ports through said head and said body portion and adapted to register with the ports through said valve member as said valve member is rotated, and icans driven from the crank shaft of said engine for rotating said valve member.

2. In an internal combustion engine, in combination with a cylinder, a rotary valve member or cup-like form set into the open end of said cylinder with ports through its bottom, a cyli der' head fitting over said valve member with a body portion fitting down into said valve member, said body portion having annular chambers concentr'e with each other and forming intake and exhaust chambers with ports therefrom to register with the ports in said valve member as the latter is rotated about the axis of said cylinder, intake and exhaust pipes connected through said head to said annular chambers, a c ntral well formed in said head vith a central opening through the valve member, a spark plug seated therein, means for revolving said valve member about the axis of said cylinder, and means for lubricating the joints between said valve memher and the cylinder wall and the body portion of the cylinder head.

3. In an internal combustion engine, a

cylinder, a cylinder head having a body portion provided with concentric annular chambers formed therein, with ports leading therefrom inwardly, a rotary valve member fitted into said cylinder against the bottom of the body portion of said head and having ports therethrough adapted to be turned into and out of register with the ports from said body portion, means connecting intake and exhaust pipes to said head and said'annular chambers, and means for rotating said valve-member.

4. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder enlarged at one end as to internal diameter, a rotary valve member ef cup-like form rotatably seated in said enlarged end and having ports through its bottom to serve as intake and exhaust ports, a cylinder head fitted over said valve member with a body portion seated down in said cup-like form and having intake and exhaust chambers formed therein with ports through its bottom to be put into register with the ports in said valve member as thelatter is revolved, intake and exhaust pipes connected through said head to said chambers, a spark plug seated through said head and. said valve member, centrally thereof, and means for driving said valve member, whereby it revolves between said cylinder and said intcriitting body portion.

5. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder enlarged at one end to increase its internal diameter, a rotary valve member of cup-like form seated in said enlarged end and having ports through its bottom and having a central opening, a cylinder head fitted over the end of said cylinder and said ,valve and having a body portion fitting down in to the cup-like form of said valve, said head having concentric, annular chambers formed therein for intake and exhaust chambers, with ports opening through the bottom thereof in position to register with the valve ports as the latter is revolved, means for revolving said valve member about the axis of said cylinder, a spark plug inserted through said head and through the central opening of said valve member, and means for lubricating said revolving valve member between the cylinder Wall andthe outside of said body portion of said head, substantially as described.

6. In combination, a cylinder having one end enlarged in diameter to form an offset portion, a rotary valve member seated in said enlarged portion. and having radially disposed ports through said valve memberinto said cylinder, a cylinder head titted over the end of said cylinderand said valve member, said head having intake and exhaust chambers formed therein with ports opening therefrom through the inside thereof to register with the ports through said valve member the latter is revolved, means for revol ing said valve member between said cylinder and said head, intake and exhaust pipes connected through said head with said intake and exhaust cylinders, and ignition means centrally of said head and said rotary valve member.

7. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a rotary va vet i'ncmber closing the open end of said cylinder and having radially disposed ports through its body into said cylinder, a fixed cylinder head secured to said cylinder and interfitting With said. valve, said head having intake and exhaust chambers with ports therefrom to register with said valve ports when the latter is re volved, and means for revolving said valve member.

Signed at Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, this 26 day of January, 1928.

RICHARD F. GEORGE. 

